A MATCHED PAIR OF SINHALESE IVORY-INLAID, SPECIMEN WOOD AND EBONY OCCASIONAL TABLES**

CIRCA 1830

Details

A MATCHED PAIR OF SINHALESE IVORY-INLAID, SPECIMEN WOOD AND EBONY OCCASIONAL TABLES**
Circa 1830
Each hexagonal top radially inlaid with various exotic woods including zebra wood, satinwood and others with chevron-patterned divides centering an engraved flowerhead and with foliate-carved edge above a frieze drawer, on dual scrolled foliate-carved supports on a rectangular platform base with splayed foliate-carved legs and scroll feet, slight differences in proportions and carved details
One: 30in. (76cm.) high, 24in. (63cm.) wide; the other: 29in. (74cm.) high, 23in. (58cm.) wide (2)

Lot Essay

These tables are typical of the carved ebony furniture manufactured on the island of Ceylon/Sri Lanka throughout the nineteenth century. While their form derives from English pattern designs of the second quarter of the nineteenth century (such as Thomas King's The Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified of 1829), their carved ornament is influenced by local traditions. These tables were made for the British colonists in Ceylon and India as well as for export to England. A number of comparable tables with similar inlay of exotic woods and ivory are known, including one formerly at the Royal Commonwealth Society, and another table which was on view at the Ceylon Court of the Paris Exhibition of 1855. A related center table with similar inlay sold anonymously in these Rooms, 16 October 1998, lot 330.